PhD Business and Management

Our virtual week took place October 2024 – to find out about future sessions to explore postgraduate research opportunities across the university, please visit our study fairs and events page.

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Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

The current deadline for consideration in internal funding competitions is 15 March 2025.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

• For September 2025 entry: 30 June 2025

Before you start your application, you should:

1. Develop your own research proposal and project title.
2. Find a supervisor by browsing our academics' profiles, and reach out directly to discuss if they are interested in supporting your research.
3. Consider how you plan on funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor.

When you submit your application, you must include each of the below required documents:

• A 3,000-word PhD research proposal (exclusive of references). Please state the word count on page 1 of the document.
• A copy of your Bachelor's academic transcript and certificate.
• A copy of your Master's academic transcript and certificate. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
• If you have completed more than one Bachelor's or Master's degree, please provide evidence for each. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must provide an official English translation. If your weighted average mark or GPA is not included on these documents, please also include an official document from your university verifying this information.
• An up-to-date academic CV summarising your academic record, employment history, publications and highlighting experience demonstrating your research potential.
• The names of two academic referees, including one from your most recent institution. Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following the submission of your application form. You may wish to notify your referees to submit their references promptly, as this is part of the review process.
• A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency. Applications can be considered without this evidence but any offer would be conditional on meeting minimum requirements.

This programme provides advanced training to develop innovative research in all areas of business and management.

Our PhD students undertake research study across a number of research themes often within the Division of Management Sciences and Marketing including:

• Marketing management and strategy
• Consumer behaviour
• Business informatics
• Decision sciences
• Operations and supply chain management
• Data science

We continue to attract outstanding researchers of the highest calibre and our PGR population is one of the largest in the UK, with around 45 researchers joining us each year. As a graduate of one of the world's most innovative and ambitious doctoral research schools, you'll be sought after by leading universities, top business schools, government institutes and private sector organisations.

We embed the PhD into the research life and culture of the School by assigning you to research centres and groups. You will be active in the research life of your centre, organising external seminars, presenting your work to peers in internal seminars, and designing and presenting posters on your PhD. Providing robust and systematic research training is a core strength of our PhD programme. To be able to take full advantage of the training opportunities that are offered, you should reside in or within commuting distance from Manchester. We strongly encourage any candidates who do not reside locally to enrol full-time.

The PhD programme at AMBS offers an annual entry point of September.  Complete applications must be received by 30 June. However, if you wish to be potentially considered for our funding opportunities, earlier deadlines will be in place.

Our Postgraduate Researchers follow a robust, systematic and flexible research training programme designed to:

• complement their own immediate requirements as they plan and write their thesis;
• introduce them to the variety of research undertaken within the Business School; and
• equip them with the broader skills to become leading edge business and management science researchers in the next generation.

The timetable runs from September to May each year.  Students are required to attend research training sessions and workshops at the School and submit various pieces of assessed work throughout this period.

Normally, full-time Postgraduate Researchers undertake this training and assessment in their first year of study.  Those studying on a part-time basis are permitted to complete the research training element in two years.   

Postgraduate researchers are assessed in a number of courses as part of their research training programme. In addition, their progress is assessed at various stages of studies through the annual progress review process.

Alliance Manchester Business School

AMBS is one of the largest business and management schools in the UK and part of the UK's biggest university - The University of Manchester. Facilities include:

• Study zones, quiet areas and break-out spaces to study and relax
• Inspiring teaching, events and meeting spaces
• New offices for our academic divisions and research centres
• Eddie Davies Library with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the bustling Oxford Road Corridor
• Three catering outlets: The Mill restaurant and event space, Café 65 and The Hive Café
• Data Visualisation Observatory
• Behavioural Research Laboratory
• Three outdoor courtyards where staff, students and visitors can take a well-earned break

The University of Manchester Library

Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.

Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.

We have a tradition of producing high quality doctoral research. Many of our graduates hold academic positions in top universities and business schools around the world. We are strongly committed to creating a research community in which researchers can thrive and develop their skills and we view all our Postgraduate Researchers as potential research stars of the future.

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a Postgraduate Researcher and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help support you with your goals for the future.